Yes but the difference here is that Yu-na is rock solid with her 3/3s, and Mao doesn't have anywhere near the same consistency with her 3axels. I think that Kim gets a raw deal when it comes to her technical merit a lot. People talk about how she doesn't take risks. And well I guess her layout isn't as "sexy" as 3axels. But seriously, the fact that Kim can hit 3/3s so consistently is frankly amazing, and probably scares the crap out of her competitors.

It's strange now, how some fans view 3/3s as not a risk considering it's difficult for some ladies to execute a great 3/3. It seems like yesterday that 3/3s were considered to be a risk.

When Mao finished off podium last Worlds, THAT was her chance. But what happened? Alas! They held WTT and reinforced her obsession about 3A with 200 points!

Indeed, she got highes PCS here. It's not gonna happen.

True, she should have learned from worlds and that WTT gave her a chance to believe she can do it. However, it may take this competition to finally nail it in the coffin for her.

It's understandable that Mao wants a challenge to execute 3 3As this season. She should reconsider her strategy and seek a new challenge. For example, performing both clean SP and FS with 1 3A and 3/3s instead.

There is nothing to be shocked about her scores. Mao is definitely going downhill. I missed her first half of the program due to internet issue, but I realized from her face after the program that she screwed up her 3A and maybe something else. I am excited to see her LP with 3A whose success rate this season is 25%. Show me a miracle, Mao!

For those rivalry-lovers, I guess the interesting rivalry would be between Joannie and Miki, not between Yu-Na and Mao at the Grand Prix Final.

I'm extremely happy for the top 5, especially Julia, great to see her back and be on the top (although only with a tiny margin)!
Alena has good chance to make the podium, nice to see Team Russia finally got a leading lady now.
Mao typically has stronger LP than SP, and the distance between the top 6 is nothing, she can easily make a comeback as long as she doesn't have a complete meltdown tomorrow. But, this is a wake-up call for her and Team Tarasova. Her jumps are somehow going downhill quickly after the summer training. Maybe she should put more attention on her 3-3 rather than 3A.

I am sort of happy about the result!!
Tatiana and Mao should know that they are getting worse and worse.
Look at Yuna!!! She does not make any mistakes!
Yuna knows better the rule and she is practicing better.

I love all figure skaters and love also Mao, but compare to Yuna, Miki, Joannie and Carolina, she doesn't seems to be able to think anything by herself. I mean to show herself better. She seems to be following what Tatiana says.

I am female and I am sort of in Fashion industry, so I do not understand the choice for dresses, music, make up etc.
Even old ladies here wouldn't chose these dresses!!!
Make up, uffa please go to Sephora or some shops which sells cosmetics and ask someone there how to put make up.
Eveything of Mao this season so far is disappointing.

Seriously, makeup and new dresses will do nothing if Mao doesn't deliver clean performances.

good program from ando i guess. nothing very special i guess. and heavily penalized for the combo poor soul

Originally Posted by beep_beep

Holy cow! Granny is leading!!

Originally Posted by HCOSurfer

OUCH 51.94 for Mao . Who would've thought that Julia and Alissa would be the top two in the SP?

what series of surprises to wake up to!

Originally Posted by axalteke

OMG!!! at the end of Ladies SP, the Russian woman announcer(I don’t know her name!) surely confirmed that Mao cried awfully going out. And more, Tatiana had not come back to give her a scheduled interview.